Nightmares, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Sleep Disorders
Conditions
Keywords
posttraumatic stress, nightmares, sleep, psychotherapy, imagery rehearsal, insomnia, behavioral treatment, veterans, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two talk therapies for OEF/OIF Veterans at the Michael J. Crescenz and the West Haven VA Medical Centers. Participants will randomly receive one of two individual treatments intended to improve the sleep disturbance and nightmares of returning Veterans.
Detailed description
This is a dismantling study with the objective of determining whether imagery rehearsal is essential to the efficacy of imagery rehearsal + CBT-I for improving the sleep and nightmare disturbance in Veterans with PTSD and recurrent nightmares.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALCBT for Insomnia plus Imagery Rehearsal
patients receive standard CBT for insomnia and psychoeducation combined with techniques of imagery rehearsal aimed at reducing posttraumatic nightmare frequency and distress
BEHAVIORALCBT for Insomnia plus psychoeducation
patients receive standard CBT for insomnia combined with psychoeducation
Sponsors
VA Office of Research and Development
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Intervention model description
This is a randomized controlled trial comparing two forms of psychotherapy.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Currently enrolled in treatment in the Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center or VA Connecticut Healthcare System Mental Health Clinic * Meets DSM-IV-R criteria for current PTSD (within the past month) * Repetitive, military-related nightmares (at least 1 every 2 weeks, for at least 6 months) * A global sleep disturbance, as indicated by a score of five or greater on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index * Ability to read and speak English * A concurrent anxiety disorder or depressive disorder diagnosis will be allowed * Dementia related to head injury and amnestic disorder related to head injury will be allowed
Exclusion criteria
* Current substance dependence * Bipolar disorder * Delirium * Dementia that is not related to head injury * Amnestic disorder that is not related to head injury * Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders * Severe traumatic brain injury, as indicated by self-report (loss of consciousness or alteration of mental status greater than 24 hours, or peri-traumatic memory loss, or any posttraumatic amnesia greater than 7 days) * The presence of diagnosed sleep disorders other than insomnia: narcolepsy, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, and periodic limb movement disorder. Participants in treatment for sleep apnea, or who have not benefited from or declined available treatment may be included.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nightmare Frequency Questionnaire, Nightmare Distress Questionnaire | post-treatment, 3 month and 6-month follow-up | The NFQ measures the number of nightmares/week and the number of nights with a nightmare/week. The NDQ measures the distress associated with nightmare experiences. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index | post-treatment, 3 month and 6-month follow-up | This is a standard instrument for measuring basic sleep parameters. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed